Fedrigo holds nerve to take 14th Tour stage

Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo won a war of nerves, surviving a 145-km breakaway to win a crash-hit 14th stage of the Tour de France over 180.5 kms from Montelimar to Gap yesterday.

The 2005 French champion outsprinted Italian Salvatore Commesso in a nail-biting finish with chasing American Christian Vandevelde third three seconds behind.

The peloton, who looked poised to catch the escapees, finished seven seconds adrift of the Bouygues Telecom rider, whose tactics paid off in the last metres of the stage.

Spaniard Oscar Pereiro retained his overall leader's yellow jersey.

"We had a good first week but all our breakaway attempts failed so we wanted to make amends for this," said Fedrigo.

The stage got off to a nervous start, with four riders, including American George Hincapie, trying their luck after six kilometres.

At the 35-km mark five riders broke away from the peloton.

Discovery Channel's Egoi Martinez was quickly dropped as Belgium's Mario Aerts and Rik Verbrugghe, Italy's Commesso and German Matthias Kessler were caught by Fedrigo and Spaniard David Canada.

The six fugitives opened a 5:35 gap, prompting the Quick Step team to launch the pursuit 55 kms from the finish. The lead dropped quickly and the group was reduced to three men when Verbrugghe, Canada and Kessler fell over a crash barrier 39 kms from the line.

Kessler got back on his bike while Verbrugghe and Canada pulled out with nasty injuries.

Cofidis rider Verbrugghe was suffering a possible leg fracture and was being transported to the nearest hospital, said the Tour's chief doctor Gerard Porte. Canada picked up a right collarbone fracture.

Today is a welcome rest day for the riders before three consecutive stages of high mountain climbing in the Alps.